As per our announcement of April 3, 2025, following the ice storm of March 29/30, the entire 500 km long Ganaraska Hiking Trail was officially closed. Meanwhile, our club volunteers have been busy assessing and restoring their sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail and as a result of their hard work, we hope to be able to “open” up some sections very soon. Stay tuned for further announcements, hopefully by this coming weekend.
Our volunteers have already cleared a lot of the fallen debris, put caution tape around some dangerous hazards and/or created a small reroute, all this in an effort to make the trail “passable”. Trail Closed signs are being installed on those sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, which are still considered impassable, or where we have not been able to even start or complete any restoration. In the most affected areas, such as many of the Simcoe County Forests in Oro Medonte, salvage efforts are scheduled by the landowner. These logging operations may last well into the summer, but will open up the forest access roads, and make it easier for our volunteers to access the trail for restoration efforts.
As we cannot enforce physical closure of trail access, we ask that persons traversing the trail be guided by the following principles:
- As is always the case, even under normal circumstances, HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK. It remains the individual’s own responsibility to decide what their own risk tolerance is.
- There are still a lot of overhead hazards such as tree branches hanging above the trail, or leaning trees near the trail, which we plan to deal with in due time. Several of our volunteers have taken chainsaw training to help tackle the situation.
- Consider the wind. Higher wind speeds and gusts can dislodge the overhead hazards or topple leaning trees.
- Leave a hike plan with someone (i.e. where you plan to hike, when expected back, etc.)
- Hike with a buddy
Enjoy the hiking season, but stay safe out there!
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
